The Princess Diaries (Movie)

Bibliographic Information
Studio: Walt Disney Pictures / Buena Vista Pictures
Release Year: 2001
Director: Gary Marshall
Screenplay Written By: Gina Wendkos
Based On: The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot
Starring: Anne Hathaway, Julie Andrews, Hector Elizondo, Heather Matarazzo, Mandy Moore

Reader’s Annotation
Everything about Mia Thermopolis’ life feels average from her status at school to her unrequited crush, until her grandmother visits and drops the ultimate bomb: Mia is princess of a country called Genovia and her people need her to assume the crown!

Plot Summary
High schooler Mia Thermopolis lives in San Francisco with her mother, an outgoing artist. Mia considered everything about her life to be perfectly average. Her worst problems are that her mom has recently started dating her algebra teacher, and her body's apparent obliviousness to the fact that she is, in fact, going through puberty. She has always known her father is a European politician, but when her grandmother visits after her father’s death, the whole truth is revealed: Mia’s father was actually the crown prince of a small country called Genovia and now that he has passed away, Mia must choose whether to assume the crown as princess! Following this unbelievable announcement, her grandmother Clarice insists on giving Mia “princess lessons” to prepare her to be a ruler. She tries to keep her possibly royal status a secret, but the news gets out and suddenly she is all her classmates can talk about. Her best friend Lily is upset that Mia didn't tell her before it became the hottest school gossip. Then, Clarice drops a bombshell: Mia has to make her decision and publicly announce whether she will be accepting the job of Princess of Genovia at the annual Genovian ball. Will Mia give up the life she's always known for the good of a country she never knew existed?

Critical Evaluation
This film presents the story of an average girl becoming a princess in a campy but real manor. With a combination of well-rounded characters and a detailed backstory of the entire fictional country of Genovia, The Princess Diaries tells the story of Mia’s awkward high school experiences and coming to terms with her royal status in a hilarious and heartfelt way. This is largely due to Marshall's direction, the style of which has been delighting comedy fans for decades. Marshall combined his knowledge of comedy with situations young people will find relatable, such as having a difficult time fitting in in high school, to produce a timeless teen tale. Also contributing to the success of the way the story is told is the talent of the main actors. Anne Hathaway as Mia and Julie Andrews as Queen Clarice play off of each other in a way that makes them believable as grandmother and granddaughter, people from different generations and backgrounds who do not always understand one another, but love each other nonetheless. In their relationship, Marshall's experience directing The Odd Couple and Laverne and Shirley shines through. Casting, acting, and direction form the perfect cinematic storm in this thoughtful comedy.

Director Information
Director, writer and producer Garry Marshall was born in New York City on November 13, 1934. He studied journalism at Northwestern University and worked as a reporter after graduation. In 1961, Marshall moved to Los Angeles, where he wrote and produced television shows. In the 1970s, he produced the hit sitcoms The Odd Couple, Happy Days, Laverne and Shirley, and Mork and Mindy. Marshall also directed 18 films including The Flamingo Kid (1984), Beaches (1988), Pretty Woman (1990) and The Princess Diaries (2001). He died on July 19, 2016 at the age of 81.

Marshall began his career in comedy writing jokes for comedians. He landed work as a writer for The Tonight Show With Jack Paar. In 1961, he moved to Los Angeles and wrote for The Joey Bishop Show. In L.A., he teamed up with writing partner Jerry Belson, and they co-wrote episodes for The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Lucy Show and I Spy. In 1970, Marshall and Belson developed the hit sitcom The Odd Couple, based on the popular Neil Simon play and starring Jack Klugman and Tony Randall. The popular show ran for five seasons. Marshall reached the height of his career as a television producer during the 1970s, creating iconic hits including Happy Days (1974-1984), starring Ron Howard and Henry Winkler as the Fonz; its spin-off Laverne and Shirley (1976-1983), which starred his sister Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams; and Mork and Mindy (1978-1982), which helped launch the career of Robin Williams. He also created another Happy Days spin-off Joanie Loves Chachi, which didn't fare as well in the ratings and only ran from 1983-1984.

Source: http://www.biography.com/people/garry-marshall-9542496#background
Genre
Comedy
Romance

Curriculum Ties
Fairy Tales
Theater Arts

Reading Level/Interest Age
MPAA Rating: G

Challenging Issues
n/a

Preparing for Potential Challenges
This movie has a "G" rating. It contains an appropriate sory and most likely does not present any issues that might be challenged by a young adult patron or their parent.

Why the Item Was Chosen
I chose this item because it is a movie teens will want to watch over and over. I believe it will circulate often and be a popular addition to my collection. The decision to include The Princess Diaries in my collection also stems from the fact that it is a movie based on a series of books. Teens who watch the movie might become interested in reading the first of Meg Cabot's series. This could turn into reading the entire series. Movies are a fun part of going to the library, but I believe reading is an especially important activity for young adults. Watching a movie that will inspire them to read is both entertaining and ultimately rewarding.